Over six decades ago, renowned directors Henry Hathaway, John Ford, and George Marshall put together a film on the American Western expansion titled “How The West Was Won.” This was a momentous production, with an impressive star-studded ensemble and a narrative of complex dimensions. The film, while daring in its attempt, suffered from a grand scale, clashing visions, and antiquated politics.
In recent times, actor Kevin Costner seems to have drawn inspiration from this classic for his ambitious directorial return, “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 1.” This three-hour epic attempts to address and rectify past mistakes while being caught in the same pitfalls as its predecessor.
“Horizon,” though not an attempt to reinvent the Western genre, is a slow-paced intertwining of narratives. The storyline takes so long to kick off that Costner doesn't emerge until an hour into the film. Despite its narrative flaws, the film teases the promise of a high-paced movie which doesn't fully materialize in this installment.
Chapter One, set in 1859 in San Pedro Valley, introduces a white family who falls victim to Apache warriors unhappy with their presence on ancestral lands. Despite this violence, white settlers continue to come, eventually forming a town guarded by armed citizens. The film then follows various characters' disparate experiences and choices in response to this clash between cultures.
However, the introduction of characters takes so long that any engagement with them becomes chore-like. Even when pivotal characters are introduced, such as Costner's character Hayes Ellison, they appear as an afterthought. This limited utilization of main characters lessens the impact of their presence on screen.
An emigrant wagon journey introduced in the final part of the film lends some dynamism to the story. Despite attempts to evenly portray both native and settler perspectives, the indigenous perspective often falls short compared to their white counterparts.
"Horizon" also hints at a conspiracy theory involving a publisher printing elusive promises of prosperity. Unfortunately, similarities with its inspiration, “How The West Was Won,” are undeniable, and “Horizon” struggles to rise above these echoes of the past.
Despite promises of future installments, the tedious narrative and dearth of memorable characters in “Horizon” undermine its potential. The story fails to deliver on audience expectations, leaving the best parts of the narrative untapped. “Horizon: An American Saga-Chapter 1” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and is set for public release on June 28th.
